December 12, 2024 20:53 (IST)
Brexit: UK votes on historic "Leave" or "Remain" EU membership, Cameron urges voters to reject leave campaign
London, Jun 23 (IBNS) Amid speculations of a knife-edge finish, Britons are voting on Thursday to decide on whether the UK will remain a part of the 28-member European Union even as the outcome will be crucial for Prime Minister David Cameron and his continuing in office as he made a plea to all to keep the country a part of EU in the historic poll.
Both India and the USA want UK to remain in EU even as Cameron urged voters to “put jobs first, put the economy first”.
"Vote Remain - so that our children and grandchildren have a brighter future," tweeted David Cameron who with his wife Samantha voted in the E.U. referendum at Central Methodist Hall, Wesminster, on Thursday.
The "Leave" or "Remain" campaign, which is also now termed as Brexit or British Exit from the EU, gained momentum as the world watches what the Britons decide on Thursday since a decision of UK to leave the EU will impact the global economy in a big way.
According to a report in The Guardian, Cameron by the former prime ministers Gordon Brown and Sir John Major, the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, and the Green MP Caroline Lucas, "in a final display of cross-party unity as the polls pointed to a close finish."
A Time report says a record number of voters — almost 46.5 million — have registered to take part in the referendum that comes after bitter campaigning and is going to be a very close affiar.
The ruling Conservative party is divided over the vote, which Prime Minister David Cameron promised voters before last year’s general election.
The former London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is Cameron’s possible successor as party leader, has led the Leave campaign, along with several serving Cabinet members.
Johnson told media: "If we don't vote to leave tomorrow we will remain locked in the back of the car, driven in an uncertain direction, frankly, to a place we don't want to go and perhaps by a driver who doesn't speak the very best of English."
The campaign has drawn support with appeals to nationalism, especially among the English, claiming that outside of Europe, Britain would reclaim a sense of sovereignty and take back control of its borders.
Both Cameron and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have campaigned for the U.K. to Remain in the union, arguing that to leave would risk economic disaster.
In one of the last polls before the vote, YouGov found Remain leading on 51 per cent, to Leave’s 49 per cent, on the eve of the referendum. However, the pollsters said, “the race is too close to call.”
Meanwhile, world leaders are warning UK against parting from the EU.
US President Barack Obama earlier called the referendum "a matter of deep interest to the United States because it affects our prospects as well. The United States wants a strong United Kingdom as a partner. And the United Kingdom is at its best when it's helping to lead a strong Europe."
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also said it would be a big shock if Britain leaves the EU.
Japan and China also want Britain to remain in EU.
Image: Fanshare wallpapers
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